In the interest of brevity, we kept an item in Monday's Inquirer about Councilman Bill Green, State Sen. Anthony Williams and the future of the Philadelphia Sheriff's Department short on the back and forth, but there's a lot more going on that you should not miss.
First of all, it seems that Green is getting a lot more grief from black politicians over a bill to eliminate the Sheriff's Office than Councilman Frank DiCicco, the main sponsor of the bill. Green was the only co-sponsor.
"No one has said a word to me," DiCicco shrugged in the 3rd floor hallway Tuesday. Insiders suggest DiCicco is more interested in sticking his thumb in the eye of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady and the Democratic City Committee than he is in reforming the Sheriff's Office. DiCicco's aide, Nick Schmanek, lost a bid to become leader of the 2nd Ward in South Philly in May, with some help from the party establishment.
Is DiCicco out for payback?
"It's all about good government," he deadpanned.
But to some factions of city's African-American political community, an assault on the Sheriff's Office, regarded as a bastion of black political power, is an attack on them.
The Clerk of Quarter Sessions, led by African-American ward leader Vivian Miller, was recently eliminated as an elected office, and Williams and others have questioned why Green would target the Sheriff's Office without questioning the remaining row offices -- the Register of Wills and City Commissioners, controlled by mostly white politicians. It should be noted however, that the Sheriff's Office has been raked over the coals in City Controller's audits going back at least 20 years, more so than those other offices.
And though Williams in Monday's column singled out Councilman Green as persona non grata, it was other black politicians -- plus the Fraternal Order of Police and Green's own allies -- who had already convinced Green that targeting the Sheriff's Office is a very risky political move.
Green's printed comments on Monday were brief, but he actually had quite a bit to say about Williams.
"I'm surprised that Senator Williams would make such a comment without ever having spoken to me about these issues. Especially given my record of preventing regressive taxes [trash fee, soda tax], keeping libraries open and other progressive measures," Green said. "I do not believe my colleagues, the people who work with me day to day and understand what I am fighting for and against, share the Senator's point of view."
Just who shares Williams' point of view will be important come May, when Green seeks reelection. Whether Williams' influence, coupled with whatever simmering opposition there is for Green as a result of the Sheriff's issue, is enough to hurt Green, will be question that the Councilman will want to know by then.
In the meantime, it appears that Williams is willing to put his clout behind the right candidate. "It's probably going to be a crowded field," he said nonchalantly over coffee recently. "And I'm open to options."
Click here for Philly.com's politics page.
Ask Senator Williams, What if anything has he done for his constituents from the racially mixed communities? I will tell you, "Nothing". Councilman Green is only looking for resolutions to keep our firehouses open, our parks open and more police on these same streets that the the Senator neglects. Being Racial works both ways and there should be no room for it in these crucial times, call it like you see it.— concernedkop- Well where are the racists on this one— abbe
- cut expenses, keep going - 10,000 citezens get 100 a day on state road everyday. 1 million a day of taxes. Chop that down 10% a day = 100,000 x 352 days. Waste of resources.
- Another victory for Tammany Hall 2.0— CatoTheElder
- Green is going to try to run for Mayor so why would he be scared of this fight. He was taking on Mayor Nutter straight from the door so he was taking on the black community already. Considering how bad this city is getting, Maybe he should. Senator Williams should think more about getting Nutter re-elected or running for mayor himself. I would think keeping the mayors office black is more important than the Sheriffs office.— JoseDeLeon
- All those offices need to go. Williams is defending people who are flushing our money down the toilet. All the other people, regardless of color, who are doing the same thing also need to go. The City Commissioners Office is probably wasteful, but it's also crooked and shady and shouldn't be trusted with running our elections. They should be going at least at the same time as the Sheriff's office, if not before.— SirEdward
- Oh my god! They are making yet another racist issue where none exists. Typical I suppose...— psyrus
- SirEdward: "City Commissioner Office crooked, shady and shouldn't be trusted with running elections?" On what do you base such unsubstantiated, unfounded, urban legend BS. You obviously have no knowledge of the operations of the office and the efforts of its civil service employees striving to insure that all qualified Philadelphians who apply to register appear in pollbooks and that every single vote is counted as cast. Get a brain and a life.— ElecFact
- Frankie, go get your shoeshine box, your gonna need it.— FJG JR
- Yeah lets keep a worthless outdated department open so we can keep stealing from the taxpayers...get rid of this and any other department that has outlived its usefulness...I'll vote for you Bill— phillysmart
- If by DiCicco's aide losing with help from the establishment you mean bribes and threats, then you're right, Inquirer. We all know Senator Williams is full of himself and full of lies and race-baiting for self-promotion. Why bother anymore?— boobookitty
- It also would have helped to point out that Vivian Miller somehow lost track of millions of dollars in potential revenue through mismanagement of the office. Does it help race relations to claim she deserved to stay in office, or the office should stay, simply because African Americans were in positions of power, woefully staffed mind you, at the Clerk of Quarter Sessions?— boobookitty
- mismanagement--no management--no money. drive the tax payers out of philly, you no account greedy politicians. is there anyone not brain dead and corrupt in office?— Miss M.
- What i understand is that the sheriffs office transport prisoners from jails [all different counties] to the C.J.C. [court house]..has anyone escape their custody?? they provide the security at C.J.C. coming into the building, and also court rooms . there is a Deputy Sheriff in every court room to protect families and just the general public..we all know what can happen in a court room. Arguments, Fights, threats ,people taking pictures of witness.. Sure we don't need Sheriff's in our courts ,we'll let the prisoners walk to court and just let everybody bring in whatever they want into the court house..[weapons] ...These are only some of the things that the Sheriff's provides..cival process,Writs, levys,landlord eviction,P.F.A.[protection from abuse] Child support courts, Traffic court, juvenile courts..parking authority...Get rid of the office and let all this run wild. Think smart people it's not about race...it's our safety...Just keeping it real... A Taxpayer who has been on jury duty....— philly1987
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